-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Florida A&M University band director Julian White , who had been under pressure to step aside after the hazing-related death of a band member , is retiring , his attorney announced Thursday .

White , 71 , is stepping down just days after 13 people were charged in connection with the November 2011 hazing death of FAMU Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion . White was placed on paid administrative leave shortly after Champion 's death .

FAMU 's board of trustees is scheduled to meet on May 14 to discuss the future of the band .

Champion , 26 , died within an hour of his being badly beaten during a hazing incident on a band bus following a football game in Orlando , Florida . The ritual , called `` Crossing Bus C , '' is an initiation process in which pledges attempt to run down the center aisle while being assaulted by senior members , according to some university band members .

An autopsy found `` extensive contusions of his chest , arms , shoulder and back , '' and `` evidence of crushing of areas of subcutaneous fat , '' medical examiners reported .

As recently as last week , White had asked for full reinstatement as director of the famed university band .

White , who had been with FAMU for 40 years , had tried to root out hazing for the past 22 years , his attorney Chuck Hobbs said .

`` Dr. White remains disappointed that barely 48 hours after meeting with band members , that Robert Champion was killed in an extreme , horrific and illegal act of bullying , '' Hobbs said in an earlier statement .

The death prompted the university board of trustees to approve an anti-hazing plan that includes an independent panel of experts to investigate .

Currently , 13 people are charged in Champion 's death , 11 are facing felony hazing charges and two others are charged with misdemeanor hazing .

Champion 's death brought renewed public scrutiny to the practice of hazing , which has gone on for years despite what the Tallahassee university said were efforts to stop it .

Champion 's mother , Pam , has called for the FAMU band to be disbanded .

`` They need to clean out the filth to move forward . How can they allow the band out there ? '' she said last week . `` They have n't done anything to safeguard students -- certainly not my son . My son was murdered . ''

@highlight

FAMU 's band director steps down after 40 years

@highlight

Board of trustees plan to meet next week to discuss band 's fate

@highlight

FAMU drum major Robert Champion died after a November hazing incident

@highlight

Thirteen people have been charged in his death